Viewer Profiles for Configuring Set Top Terminals

ABSTRACT

A set top terminal is provided that includes a receiver/tuner for receiving programming content over a broadband communications network and a decoder for decoding the programming content provided by the receiver/tuner. The set top terminal also includes a database capable of storing a plurality of viewer profiles each containing at least one viewer preference associated with a registered viewer. The viewer preference reflects a programming or user configuration preference of the registered viewer. A processor is operationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the decoder, and the database and a user interface operationally associated with the processor. The processor is configured to operate in accordance with each of the viewer profiles.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to set top terminals, and moreparticularly to set top terminals that contain multiple viewer profilesthat reflect programming or user configuration preferences of the viewerand which are automatically implemented by the set top terminals andcommunicated and shared by set top terminals within the same householdover a home network.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional system for displaying a program, e.g., a video program,includes a monitor or a television (TV) set connected to a set top boxor terminal. The set top box is connected through a coaxial cable to acable TV network or a satellite dish for “satellite TV.” The TV set andthe set top box are located, for example, in a user's home and receive amultitude of TV channels from a broadcast head end, wherein each TVchannel presents a multitude of programs during a typical day. In orderto select and watch a certain program, the user controls the set top boxto tune to a desired channel. The TV set receives a video signal fromthe set top box and displays the program of the desired channel.

As set top terminals continue to advance, they have become morefeature-rich, providing a wide array of options for the viewer. Forinstance, many set top terminals include digital video recorder (DVR)capabilities to record and store video programs received from thecoaxial cable, satellite dish, and the like. This feature allows viewersto schedule programs to be recorded for play back at a later time,record what users are watching in real-time to allow them, for instance,to pause a real-time program when, for example, the viewer must leavethe room. Viewers may resume their viewing where they left off, and mayfast forward through commercials until they reach the point at which theprogram is currently being provided. While the provision of DVRcapabilities has many advantages for the viewer, it unfortunately mayalso increase the complexity of the set top terminal for viewers.

Another feature that is often incorporated into set top terminals toenhance a television viewer's experience is an Electronic Program Guide(EPG). As known in the art, the electronic program guide lists scheduledprograms for a predetermined period of time (e.g., two weeks) andprovides, among other things, information about broadcast dates andtimes and content information. Although set-top terminals equipped withan EPG enable users to identify and locate programming of interest tothem, it has become more and more difficult and time-consuming to use asthe number of channels and diversity of available programming continuesto increase.

Set top terminals generally offer simple viewer programming capabilitiesto enhance their convenience. For example, programming can be used torecord a show in advance, to maintain a selection of favorite shows orchannels to thereby avoid the need to search the entire EPG, or tospecify the actions of certain keys on a remote control or other userinput device. While such programming and customization may be helpfulfor a single viewer, it can become problematic when multiple viewers usethe same set top terminal. For instance, different viewers may want torecord different shows to configure keys in a different manner.Likewise, different viewers may have favorite shows and/or channels thatdiffer from one another. Thus, despite the incorporation of suchprogramming capabilities, the flexibility of set top terminals toaccommodate the various preferences of different viewers is limited.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of a digital set-top terminal.

FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a viewer profile database containingviewer programming profiles for multiple viewers.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of how a viewer may set upand use a viewer profile.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As set top terminals increase in sophistication, they continue to offermore and more features and options for controlling how and when viewersview the content received by the terminals. For instance, currentdigital broadcasting systems may include two hundred or more channelsthat are available to viewers. In this regard, it is impractical to scanall the available channels to search for a desired broadcast program.While an EPG helps viewers to more quickly and efficiently search for adesired program, with so many available channels, even searching throughthe entire EPG can be arduous. In addition, the viewer is often facedwith a myriad of other options that each require a decision on the partof the viewer, followed by one or more steps that must be performed toimplement each decision. For instance, the viewer may need to decidewhether to watch a program when it is broadcast or record it for laterviewing. Yet another option that is often presented to the viewer iswhether or not to access premium programming or pay-per-view events thatincur additional charges. Accordingly, it would be helpful if individualviewers could be presented with a more tailored selection of programmingand options that best conforms to the viewer's preferences so that, forinstance, the viewer does not need to search the entire EPG to findprogramming he or she may be interested in. While in principle it may bepossible to customize various viewer options for a given individual, thesituation becomes significantly more complex if multiple viewers use thesame set top terminal since different viewers will generally havedifferent preferences. For instance, one particular viewer may beinterested in various sports and movie channels while another viewer maybe interested in channels that provide topical programming such asdocumentaries and news.

In the system and methods described herein, the set top terminal can becontrolled by individual viewer profiles stored in a viewer profiledatabase. The profiles of different viewers may be in operation atdifferent times of a given day or week. In this way, when a particularviewer profile is operational at the pre-selected times, the set topterminal is automatically configured or customized to the viewing habitsof the particular viewer (or category of viewers such as parents orchildren) associated with the profile. For instance, at the appropriatetime, the set top terminal can present the viewer with a personalizedEPG that only includes his or her personal channels. Alternatively, orin addition thereto, the viewer may be presented with a list of favoriteshows (in some cases the favorite shows may be highlighted in thepersonalized EPG). At these times the set top terminal can also bedirected to record one of the favorite shows and/or tune to one of thefavorite channels so that when the viewer activates the display it isimmediately available.

FIG. 1 shows one example of a digital set-top terminal 100. These unitsoffer digital video, audio, and high speed-data services along withstreaming media, PPV, Internet services, HDTV, and personal videorecorder (PVR) capabilities. Of course, digital set top 100 terminal isonly one example of a set top terminal and is presented by way ofillustration only.

Digital set-top terminal 100 includes a digital tuner 46 for tuning to adesired digital television channel from the band of television signalsreceived by the set-top 100 via input 34. Decryption and decompressionhardware and associated software are included in the videodecoder/decrypter 48 for decoding the tuned digital signal (e.g. anMPEG-2 television signal) prior to sending it to the display 50. Thedecoder/decrypter 48 may also include decryption circuitry that decryptsan encrypted content from the content feed. Some broadcasts,particularly pay-per-view broadcasts or premium channels such as HBO™and Showtime™ are encrypted so that non-subscribers cannot view thecontent. The decrypter 48 decrypts any such encrypted content forviewing on the display unit 50 by the consumer. The decrypter mayinclude a variety of decryption schemes for corresponding premiumchannels or services. As with conventional cable boxes, the decryptioncircuitry may be enabled or disabled depending upon the consumer'ssubscription to the premium channel or associated encrypted content.Authorization for decryption may be governed by appropriate payment forthe associated content. For example, pay-per-view content is typicallyencrypted with decryption authorization governed by an appropriateone-time payment by the consumer.

While not shown in FIG. 1, it will be recognized that the digitalset-top terminal 100 will generally also include an analog tuner todecode and display analog video.

An electronic program guide (EPG) 80 is also provided in set-topterminal 100. The EPG 80 is an interactive, on-screen display featurethat displays information analogous to TV listings found in localnewspapers or other print media. The EPG, which is generally receivedalong with the programming content, may be updated on a periodic basisso that the consumer can make appropriate selection for upcomingprograms. The electronic program guide 80 displays information on thedisplay unit 50 using onscreen display processor 70, which is also usedfor displaying additional information such as control menus and thelike. In some cases, instead of transmitting it along with theprogramming, the electronic program guide 80 may be downloaded via atelephone line, cable connection, satellite up-link, or radio broadcastantenna.

The digital set-top terminal 100 also includes a user interface 60. Theuser interface 60 may include various control devices such as a keypadconnected directly to the set top box 100 or a remote control deviceconnected by an infrared link. The user interface 60 permits the user tointeract with the set top box 100 and electronic program guide 80 tothereby select content for recording and on-demand playback. Also, asdetailed below, the user interface 60 may be employed to createindividual viewer profiles that customize the set top terminal for eachviewer or category of viewer.

As an adjunct to the user interface 60, some set top terminals may alsoreceive user commands and other instructions by voice input. In such acase the set top terminal 100 also includes a microphone 52 that isoperative to detect a speech signal. Microphone 52 converts the speechsignal to an electric signal as is well known in the art. The electricsignal is provided to a speech recognition unit 54, also referred to asa voice recognition unit. Hereinafter, the terms “speech recognition”and “voice recognition” are interchangeably used. Speech recognitionunit 54 may include conventional interface circuitry for operating aspeaker 66, which may be employed to provide voice messages to the user.The voice messages may be accompanied by messages displayed on displayunit 50. In some cases the set top terminal 100 may not include its owndedicated speaker, but may simply employ the speaker associated with thedisplay unit 50.

The viewer may use the user interface or speech recognition engine tobrowse through the program guide, operate features in the program guide,refer to data presented on on-screen menus, retrieve selected programguide data, record programs, make selections and configure the programguide. The viewer may also establish his or her own individual profile,as discussed in more detail below. All these operations may be performedeither in a conventional mode of operation by pressing keys on akeyboard or remote control associated with user interface 60, or in avoice activated mode of operation by entering voice commands andinstructions and by making voice selections with the use of the speaker66 and speech recognition unit 54. Additionally, these operations may bedone while the viewer is viewing programming on display unit 50.

The aforementioned components of set-top terminal 100 may all operateunder the control of a processor 58. The on-screen display unit 70,under the control of the EPG 80, the processor 58, the user interface60, or the speech recognition unit may generate messages and graphicinformation which are converted by display unit 70 to a format suitablefor display on display unit 50, which may be, for example, aconventional television display. The messages may include menus, errormessages, control messages and the viewer profiles discussed below.

It should be noted that the processor 58, digital tuner 46, videodecoder 48, user interface processor 60, onscreen display processor 70,speech recognition unit 54 and the other components shown in FIG. 1 mayeach be implemented in hardware, software or a combination thereof. Inaddition, although the various components are shown as separateprocessors, it is contemplated that they may be combined and implementedas separate processes on one or more processors.

Set top terminal 100 also includes a viewer profile database 65 that maybe used to store information for each registered viewer concerning theirrespective programming and/or configuration preferences. The informationassociated with each registered user is maintained in plural records.Each record may comprise, for instance, a list of favorite channels,favorite shows, daily or weekly selections, settings, restrictionsand/or other viewer preferences. When retrieved, the list of favoritechannels or shows may be presented to the user on the display unit 50,possibly in the format of an abbreviated EPG. The viewer profile mayalso instruct the set top terminal to simply display and/or record aparticular show or channel. In addition, when a given viewer profile isin operation, it may also automatically configure the set top terminalin accordance with other personal preferences of the viewer such asthose involving the user interface, menus and the like.

The viewer profiles described herein permit multiple viewers in the sameresidence or household to conveniently use a common set top terminal ina manner that is tailored to their individual preferences. Moreover,since the profile of a given viewer is only active when the viewer islikely to be viewing programming using the set top terminal, differentprofiles do not conflict with one another. In some cases a viewer may beable to invoke or otherwise activate his or her profile at times otherthan those prescribed in the profile, thereby adding an additionaldegree of flexibility and convenience for the viewer.

The viewer profiles allow household members to tailor the set topterminal around their own viewing habits. For instance, if in ahousehold with children the children are permitted to watch televisionbetween 5 pm and 6 pm on weeknights and 8 am to 10 am on weekendmornings, the set top terminal may provide them access to their favoritechannels and/or shows and may also prevent them from viewing any otherchannels during these time periods. Similarly, the set top terminal maybe configured in accordance with a parental profile between say, thehours of 7 pm and 11 pm on weeknights. During these hours the set topterminal may provide access to the parents' favorite channels and/orshows. In this way the viewer can quickly find a show or channel ofinterest without being required to navigate through a complicated menuof perhaps hundreds of channels.

FIG. 2 shows an illustrative representation of the viewer profiledatabase 65 indicating how the information may be structured and linkedtogether. While the database 65 is shown having a tree structure, anyother appropriate arrangement may be employed to link together the datastored in database 65. The database includes a main folder of viewers35, each of whom in turn have their own profile folder. For instance, inFIG. 2, the profile folders 37 ₁-37 ₄ are shown for a family of four andinclude a folder for mom (folder 37 ₁), dad (folder 37 ₂), son (folder37 ₃), and daughter (folder 37 ₄). Each of the folders 37 is linked to aseries of records 39 in which profile information associated with eachuser is stored. For example, in FIG. 2, illustrative viewer recordsinclude records for favorite channels 39 ₁, favorite shows 39 ₂, dailyselections (to view select programming only on one or more particulardays of the week) 39 ₃, settings (for customizing the user interface andthe like) 39 ₄, and restrictions 39 ₅. Of course, the profile foldersmay include different or additional records than those that arepresented herein for purposes of illustration only. Moreover, the viewerprofile database may be formatted in a wide variety of differentconfigurations and is not limited to the particular configuration shownin FIG. 2.

The viewer profile folders 37 ₁-37 ₄ may or may not include all the samerecord fields. For instance, it generally will not be necessary for theparental folders to include the restrictions record. Alternatively, therestrictions record may be present in the mom and dad folders, but theymay simply remain unpopulated. On the other hand, the parental foldersmay include an override command that allows them to view otherprogramming that does not conform to their respective profiles, whereasthe children's folders may have no such feature.

A residence often has more than one television, each of which requirestheir own set top terminal. For instance, televisions are often locatedin living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens. More and more such set topterminals are being networked together so that they can communicate withone another and share information so that, for instance, a programrecorded by the DVR in one set top terminal can be played on atelevision associated with another set top terminal.

Set top terminals located in a single residence or building maycommunicate with one another over a LAN that operates in accordance withany of a variety of different communication standards such as Ethernet,Powerline Communication (PCL) networks, MoCA (Multimedia over CoaxAlliance) and certain wireless mechanism (e.g., 802.11, Bluetooth),which allow connectivity between different networked devices such astelevisions, media centers, set top terminals, digital video recorders,stereos, computers, and appliances. The standards may be implemented ina wireless or wired manner using, for example, already installed coaxcable.

The viewer profiles described herein may be used to coordinate the useof such networked set top terminals. In particular, viewer profiles maybe configured so that they are not only operational at certain days andtimes, but also on one or more selected set top terminals that arenetworked together. For instance, returning to FIG. 2, the records 39 ineach profile folder 37 may have a field to specify the particular settop terminal or terminals on which the respective record is to beoperational. For example, returning to the previous example of ahousehold with parents and two children, a second television and set topterminal may reside in a den or family room in which, say, mom may wantto watch television on weekdays between 8 to 9 pm and dad wants to watchtelevision in the kitchen from 5:30 to 7 pm. In this case mom maydesignate that one or more records in her viewer profile should beoperative in the den from 8 to 9 pm while dad may designate that one ormore records in his viewer profile should be operative in the kitchenfrom 5:30 to 7 pm.

The viewer profiles may be established or modified via the userinterface or speech recognition unit associated with any of the set topterminals. The profiles may then be communicated over the network sothat they are available to all the networked set top boxes. In this wayany set top terminal may be used to establish viewer profiles that areto be implemented on any of the other networked set top terminals.

The processes described above in connection with the set-top terminal100 may be implemented in general, multi-purpose or single purposeprocessors respectively associated with the set-top terminal 100. Such aprocessor will execute instructions, either at the assembly, compiled ormachine-level, to perform that process. Those instructions can bewritten by one of ordinary skill in the art following the description ofpresented above and stored or transmitted on a computer readable medium.The instructions may also be created using source code or any otherknown computer-aided design tool. A computer readable medium may be anymedium capable of carrying those instructions and include a CD-ROM, DVD,magnetic or other optical disc, tape, silicon memory (e.g., removable,non-removable, volatile or non-volatile), packetized or non-packetizedwireline or wireless transmission signals.

FIG. 3 shows one example of how a viewer may create and use a viewerprofile. The process begins in step 305 when the viewer provides aninput (e.g., via a keyboard entry, voice command, a point and selectcommand, or a combination thereof) to the set top terminal to initiate aviewer profile setup procedure. Once the setup procedure has begun,subsequent actions of the viewer in some cases may be performed inresponse to menu prompts that are displayed visually on the displaydevice, in response to spoken prompts, or the like. Next, in step 310 aquery is presented asking the viewer whether he or she wishes to edit anexisting profile or establish a new viewer profile. Assuming the viewerwants to establish a new viewer profile, the viewer is presented in step315 with a series of fields that are to be completed by entering text,selecting items from a pull-down menu, or by any other appropriatemeans. As previously mentioned, such fields may include record fieldsfor favorite channels, favorite shows, daily selections, setting,restrictions, and the like. The viewer completes some or all of thefields in step 320. In the event that the viewer selects or enters anitem that conflicts with a pre-existing viewer profile (e.g., the viewerattempts to view a program at the same time another profile specifiesthat a program is to be viewed), a message noting the conflict will bepresented to the viewer in step 322. If the pre-existing view profilecan be overridden, the viewer will be given an opportunity to do so. Ifit cannot be overridden, the viewer will be requested to make adifferent selection. In step 325 a query is presented asking the viewerif the profile is to be password protected. If so, a password is enteredin step 325. A password may be appropriate, for instance, if the profileis being set up by a parent on behalf of a child, or when a viewer isconcerned that someone intentionally or inadvertently may alter theprofile without the viewer's knowledge. In step 335 a query is presentedto the viewer asking if the viewer profile (or selected preferencesincluded in the viewer profile) may be overridden. While an overridecommand may be convenient and offer the viewer enhanced flexibility, itonce again may not be appropriate if the profile is being set up by aparent on behalf of a child. Finally, in step 340 the viewer saves theprofile settings and exits the viewer profile setup.

1. A set top terminal comprising: a receiver/tuner for receivingprogramming content over a broadband communications network; a decoderfor decoding the programming content provided by the receiver/tuner; adatabase capable of storing a plurality of viewer profiles eachcontaining at least one viewer preference associated with a registeredviewer, said viewer preference reflecting a programming or userconfiguration preference of the registered viewer; a processoroperationally associated with the receiver/tuner, the decoder, and thedatabase; a user interface operationally associated with the processor;and wherein the processor is configured to operate in accordance witheach of the viewer profiles.
 2. The set top terminal of claim 1 furthercomprising a second database for storing an EPG, wherein at least one ofthe viewer preferences is a program selected from the EPG.
 3. The settop terminal of claim 1 wherein each of said viewer preferencesdesignates a particular circumstance under or a time at which it is tobe operational.
 4. The set top terminal of claim 1 wherein particularcircumstances under which at least one of the viewer preferences isoperational is defined by a broadcast time of a favorite program.
 5. Theset top terminal of claim 1 further comprising a network interface forreceiving at least one additional viewer profile over a local areanetwork and wherein the processor is further configured to operate inaccordance with the at least one additional profile.
 6. The set topterminal of claim 1 further comprising an on-screen display unit fordisplaying information associated with the viewer profiles.
 7. The settop terminal of claim 1 wherein the user interface comprises a keypad.8. The set top terminal of claim 1 wherein at least one of the viewerprofiles includes a record of a viewer preference having a plurality offields including a field specifying an identifier of a networked set topterminal on which the record is to be implemented.
 9. At least onecomputer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executedby a processor, performs a method including: receiving a viewer profilefrom each of a plurality of viewers, each of said viewer profilesincluding at least one viewer preference reflecting a programming oruser configuration preference of the respective viewer; storing theplurality of viewer profiles; and configuring a set top terminal tooperate in accordance with each of the viewer preferences.
 10. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein each of said viewerpreferences designates a particular circumstance under or a time atwhich it is to be operational.
 11. The computer-readable medium of claim9 wherein the viewer profile includes a least one viewer preferencespecifying at least one favorite channel or favorite program.
 12. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the viewer profile includesa viewer preference specifying at least one particular networked set topterminal on which the viewer profile is to be implemented.
 13. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein the viewer profile isreceived by a first set top terminal and configures a second set topterminal networked to the first set top terminal.
 14. Thecomputer-readable medium of claim 9 wherein said viewer preferencespecifies whether the set top terminal is to be configured to displayand/or record a particular program.
 15. The computer-readable medium ofclaim 9 wherein the at least one viewer preference associated with theregistered viewer is received from the viewer in response to a query.16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein the query ispresented to the viewer at least in part as a pull-down menu of optionson a display device.
 17. At least one computer-readable medium encodedwith instructions which, when executed by a processor, performs a methodincluding: identifying a particular viewer profile from among aplurality of viewer profiles that are each associated with a viewerregistered with a set top terminal; retrieving from a database at leastone viewer preference associated with the particular viewer profile,said viewer preference reflecting a programming or user configurationpreference of the viewer and designating a particular circumstance underor a time at which it is to be operational; and configuring the set topterminal to operate in accordance with the viewer profile at theparticular time or under the particular circumstance specified therein.18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the viewer profileincludes a least one viewer preference specifying at least one favoritechannel or favorite program.
 19. The computer-readable medium of claim17 wherein the viewer profile includes a viewer preference specifying atleast one particular networked set top terminal on which the viewerprofile is to be implemented.
 20. The computer-readable medium of claim17 wherein the viewer profile is received by a first set top terminaland configures a second set top terminal networked to the first set topterminal.